Optical recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus and recording/reproducing method

ABSTRACT

An optical recording medium including a user data area and an SA/DL area in which a replacement block to replace a defective block in the user data area, and information regarding a defect corresponding to the defective block, is recorded, wherein the information regardin the defect includes a consecutive defect list entry including information regarding defects located in consecutive locations of the user data area, and an apparatus, and a method of, using the optical recording medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Applications No.2004-372, filed on Jan. 5, 2004, and No. 2004-9846, filed on Feb. 14,2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium,recording/reproducing apparatus and recording/reproducing method fordefect management.

2. Description of the Related Art

Disc defect management is a process of compensating for data loss causedby a defect in a user data area of a disc, i.e., a defective block, bywriting user data recorded in the defective block to a new portion ofthe user data area. Generally, disc defect management is performed usinga linear replacement method or a slipping replacement method. In thesemethods, a defective area is replaced with a spare area having nodefects. In the slipping replacement method, a defective area is slippedand a next non-defective area is used. In the linear replacement method,a block of a user data area in which a defect occurs is called adefective block. A replacement block for replacing a defective block isrecorded in a spare area in a predetermined part of disc. Information onthe defective block and the replacement block, i.e., information forsearching the locations of the defective block and the replacementblock, is presented in a defect list.

Generally, when a host reads data recorded on a disc, the hostdetermines a logical address of the data and orders a hard disc drive toread the data. Then, the hard disc drive searches for a physical addresscorresponding to the logical address and reads the data recorded on thedisc in a location corresponding to the physical address. If a defectiveblock occurs in the data corresponding to the physical address, the harddisc drive has to find a replacement block that replaced the defectiveblock. Therefore, a defect list includes defect list entries, each ofthe entries respectively containing information on each of the defectiveblocks. That is, a defect list entry is generated for each defectiveblock, thus requiring a considerable recording space for the defectlists.

Therefore, effective management of a space for a defect list isrequired. For this, effective management of information on defectiveblocks is required, especially for defective blocks that occurred inconsecutive locations of a user data area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical disc on which defects aremanaged, and a defect management apparatus and method, which effectivelymanage a space required for a defect list for managing defects in adisc, and a computer-readable optical disc storing a computer program tocontrol an apparatus to perform the defect management method.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an optical recordingmedium on which defects are managed includes a replacement blockreplacing a defective block located in a user data area and an SA/DLarea in which information regarding the defect is recorded. Theinformation regarding the defect includes a consecutive defect listentry that includes information regarding defects located in consecutivelocations of the user data area.

The consecutive defect list entry may comprise a start entrycorresponding to information regarding a first defective block, and anend entry corresponding to information regarding a last defective block,wherein the first and last defective blocks are among defective blocksin the consecutive locations of the user data area.

The start entry may include location information regarding the firstdefective block, and location information regarding a replacement blockreplacing the first defective block.

The end entry may include location information regarding the lastdefective block, and location information regarding a replacement blockreplacing the last defective block.

The information on the defect may include information regarding a numberof the consecutive defect list entries.

The information on the defect may further include information regardinga number of defect list entries.

The number of single defect list entries may be calculated bymultiplying the number of consecutive defect list entries by a factor oftwo, and subtracting a resulting product from the number of defect listentries.

The information regarding the defect may include a defect list entrycomprising location information regarding the defective block, locationinformation regarding the replacement block, and state informationregarding the defect.

The state information may include replacement state information showingwhether the defective block is replaced, and consecutive defectinformation showing whether the defective block is a consecutivedefective block.

The information regarding the defect may further include informationregarding a number of consecutive defect list entries having replacementstate information showing that the defective block is replaced.

The information regarding the defect may further include informationregarding a number of consecutive defect list entries having replacementstate information showing that the defective block is not replaced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus torecord/reproduce data on an optical recording medium comprises awriting/reading unit to write the data on the medium or read the datafrom the medium, and a controlling unit, wherein the controlling unitassigns to the medium an SA/DL area, in which a replacement block, whichreplaces a defective block having a defect in a user data area, andinformation regarding the defect is recorded, and controls thewriting/reading unit to record the information regarding the defect,which comprises consecutive defect list entries corresponding toinformation regarding defects located in consecutive locations of theuser data area, in the SA/DL area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofrecording/reproducing data on an optical recording medium comprisesassigning to the medium an SA/DL area, in which a replacement block toreplace a defective block in a user data area, and information regardinga defect corresponding to the defective block, is recorded, andrecording information regarding the defect, which comprises consecutivedefect list entries corresponding to information regarding defectslocated in consecutive locations of the user data area, in the SA/DLarea.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer-readable optical disc storing a computer program to controlan apparatus to perform a defect management method ofrecording/reproducing data on an optical disc on which defects aremanaged, the defect management method including assigning to the mediuman SA/DL area, in which a replacement block to replace a defective blockhaving a defect in a user data area, and information regarding thedefect corresponding to the defective block is recorded, and recordinginformation regarding the defect, which comprises consecutive defectlist entries corresponding to information regarding defects located inconsecutive locations of the user data area, in the SA/DL area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data recording/reproducing deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a single recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a double recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of data of a SA/DL area according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed structural diagram of data of DL #i illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detailed structural diagram of data of a DL entry #iillustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram illustrating a consecutive defective blockaccording an embodiment of to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram illustrating a consecutive defect listaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the replacement stateinformation and consecutive defect information shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams illustrating a consecutivedefect block having a replacement and a consecutive defect block havingno replacement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a structural diagram of data of a DL #k illustrated in FIG.10B.

FIG. 11B is a structural diagram of data of a DL #k illustrated in FIG.10B, further including information on the number of consecutive defectlist entries.

FIG. 11C is a structural diagram of data of a DL#k illustrated in FIG.11B, further including information on the number of consecutive defectlist entries having replacement state information “0”, and informationon the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacementstate information “1”.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a defect management method for anoptical disc on which defects area are managed according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the presentinvention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data recording/reproducing deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the data recording/reproducing device includes awriting/reading unit 2 and a controlling unit 1.

The writing/reading unit 2 comprises a pickup and records/reads dataon/from a disc 4 on which defects are managed according to the presentinvention. The controlling unit 1 performs defect management accordingto the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, thecontrolling unit 1 uses a verify-after-write method to find defectivedata by recording data by a predetermined unit and verifying therecorded data. The controlling unit 1 checks where the defective dataoccurs by writing and verifying user data by a recording operation unit.The controlling unit 1 generates defect information indicating where thedefective data is located after checking the defective data, stores thegenerated information in a memory, and records the generated informationon the disc as temporary defect information after collecting apredetermined amount of the generated information.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a recording operation, whichis an operation determined by an intention of a user, or a desiredrecording operation, and the like, refers to an operation that includesloading the disc, recording data on the disc, and unloading the disc.During the recording operation, a verify-after-write operation isperformed at least once. The temporary defect information obtained byusing the verify-after-write operation is then temporarily stored in thememory.

When a user presses an eject button (not shown) in order to unload thedisc, the controlling unit 1 determines that the recording operation isterminated and reads the temporary defect information stored in thememory, provides the information to the writing/reading unit 2, andcauses the information to be recorded on the disc.

The controlling unit 1 comprises a system controller 10, a host I/F 20,a digital signal processor (DSP) 30, RF AMP 40, and a servo 50. Duringthe recording operation, the host I/F 20 receives a predetermined writecommand from the host 3 (in this embodiment, a computer) and transmitsthe write command to a system controller 10. The system controller 10controls the DSP 30 and the servo 50 in order to perform the recordingoperation in the write command received from the host I/F 20. The DSP 30adds additional data, such as a parity, to the data to be recorded whichis received from the host I/F 20 in order to correct data errors,performs ECC encoding, generates an ECC block, which is an errorcorrecting block, and modulates the ECC block in a predetermined way.The RF AMP 40 changes data outputted from the DSP 30 into RF signals.The writing/reading unit 2 records the RF signals transmitted from theRF AMP 40 on the disc 4. The servo 50 stores recording orders inputtedfrom the system controller 10 and servocontrols the pickup of thewriting/reading unit 2.

The system controller 10 includes a defect management unit 11 and amemory unit 12 in order to manage defects. The defect management unit 11reads temporary defect information stored in the memory unit 12,collects the temporary defect information, and then generates a defectlist according to the present invention. That is, when the defectmanagement unit 11 finds information on consecutive defective blocksamong the read defect information, the defect management unit 11generates a consecutive defect list entry comprised of a start entry,corresponding to information on the first defective block of theconsecutive defective blocks, and an end entry, corresponding toinformation on the last defective block of the consecutive defectiveblocks. Therefore, even if, for example, eight defective blocks occurconsecutively, only two entries instead of eight entries are generated,because the entries are generated not for each of the eight blocks butonly for the first block and the last block of the eight consecutivedefective blocks. Thus, a space required to store the entries can bereduced. The defect management unit 11 also generates a DL entry thatincludes consecutive defect information, showing whether a defect is aconsecutive or a singular defect, and replacement state information,showing whether there is a replacement block or not. The defectmanagement unit 11 generates a DL including such a DL entry.

To reproduce data, the host I/F 20 receives a read command from the host3. The system controller 10 performs initialization required forreproducing. The writing/reading unit 2 projects a laser beam onto thedisc 4, and outputs an optical signal obtained by receiving a laser beamreflected from the disc 4. The RF AMP 40 changes the optical signaloutputted from the writing/reading unit 2 into an RF signal, sendsmodulated data obtained from the RF signal to the DSP 30, and sends aservo control signal obtained from the RF signal to the servo 50. TheDSP 30 demodulates the modulated data and performs ECC error correctionon the demodulated data. The servo 50 servo controls the pickup afterreceiving both a servo signal from the RF AMP 40, and an order that isnecessary to control a servo received from the system controller 10. Thehost I/F 20 sends data received from the DSP 30 to the host 3. Forcontrolling the reproduction of data, the system controller 10 controlsthe servo 50 to read data from the location where the data is recorded.

A structure of an optical disc on which defects are managed according toan embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

Disc management information (DMI) recorded on the optical disc accordingan embodiment of to the present invention includes a disc definitionstructure (DDS), recording management data (RMD), and a defect list(DL). A disc management area (DMA) on which DMI is recorded includes atemporary disc management area (TDMA) to record temporary DMI when thedisc is recorded, and a finalized disc management area (FDMA) to recordfinalized DMI.

The TDMA to recording the temporary DMI includes a DDS/RMD area torecord a DDS and RMD, and a DL area to recording a DL.

The DDS includes location information regarding an SA/DL area in which areplacement block, replacing a defective block when a defect occurs in adata block recorded in a data area, and a DL is recorded, locationinformation regarding a DDS/RMD area, location information regardingwhere the DL is recorded, location information that can be used toreplace data in the SA/DL area or to update the DL, a consistency flagto check whether the disc was normally ejected while being used, andwrite protect information to protect writing.

The RMD, which is information regarding managing data recorded on thedisc, includes R-zone entries showing the state of each R-zone in asequential recording mode, and a bitmap showing as a bit value whetherdata regarding each recording unit block of a user area is recorded ornot for a random recording mode.

The DDS/RMD area, on which to record the DDS and the RMD, is arranged ina lead-in area or lead-out area in a single recording layer disc, whilethe DDS/RMD area is arranged in a lead-in area, middle area, or lead-outarea in a double recording layer disc. The DDS/RMD area may be allocatedin a part of a data area in order to increase the number of possibleupdates according to the intention of a drive producer or a user whenthe disc is initialized for the use of a disc.

When no more data can be recorded on the disc, or the user wants tomaintain the current state of the disc without recording additional dataand use the disc only for reproducing, the finalization of a disc isperformed, and the finalized disc management information is recorded inthe FDMA.

A PCA area is arranged for a test to detect the optimum recording powerfrom among various recording powers according to write strategies andthe variables according to the write strategies.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a single recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a lead-out area is formed towards the outercircumference of the disc, a lead-in area is formed towards the centerof the disc, and a data area is formed between the lead-out area andlead-in area.

The lead-in area includes a PCA #0, FDMA #1, FDMA #2, and DDS/RMD area#0. The data area includes a user area, SA/DL area #0, and SA/DL area#1. The lead-out area includes a PCA #1, FDMA #3, FDMA #4, and DDS/RMDarea #1.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a double recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a lead-in area, data area #0, and middle area #0are arranged in one recording layer L0, while a middle area #1, dataarea #1, and lead-out area are successively arranged in the otherrecording area L1.

In the layer L0, the lead-in area includes a PCA #0, FDMA #2, DDS/RMDarea #0, and FDMA #1. The data area includes an SA/DL area #0 and userarea #0. The middle area #0 includes an FDMA #3, DDS/RMD area #2, FDMA#4, and PCA #1. On the other hand, in the layer L1, the middle area #1includes an FDMA #3, DDS/RMD area #3, FDMA #4, and PCA #3. The data area#1 includes an SA/DL area #1 and user area #1. The lead-out areaincludes a PCA #2, FDMA #2, DDS/RMD area #1, and FDMA #1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when a defect occurs in the user area, areplacement block replacing a defective block is recorded in the SA/DLarea along with information on the defect. The information on the defectincludes location information regarding the defective block, locationinformation regarding the replacement block, and information regarding aconsecutive defect.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of data of an SA/DL area according anembodiment of to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the SA/DL area #i includes a DL #0, replacementblock #1, replacement block #k, DL #1, replacement block #k+1, . . . andDL #m.

The DL #0, which is a defect list including information on a defect,includes initialization information.

Replacement blocks, from the replacement block #1 to #k replacingdefective blocks from the defective block #1 to #k, are located next tothe DL #0. The DL #1, which is a defect list including informationregarding defective blocks from the defective block #1 to #k, andregarding replacement blocks from the replacement block #1 to #k, isrecorded next to replacement block #K. Replacement blocks from thereplacement block #k+1 to #m, replacing defect blocks from the defectblock #k+1 to #m, regarding defects occurring in the user area, arelocated next to the DL #1.

In this manner, a defect list, which includes information regarding adefect according to an embodiment of the present invention, is recordedin the SA/DL area, in which a replacement block replacing a defectiveblock is also located. That is, the defect list and the replacementblock are located in one area instead of a separate area.

FIG. 5 is a detailed structural diagram of data of DL #i illustrated inFIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, a DL #i 200 includes a DL identifier 210, DL updatecounter 220, the number of DL entries 230, DL entry #1 240, and DL entry#2 250.

The DL identifier 210 refers to an identifier indicating a defect list.That is, an identifier indicating a defect list is needed because adefect list and a replacement block are located together in an SA/DLarea according to this embodiment of the present invention.

The DL update counter 220 is a value showing the number of updates of adefect list.

The number of DL entries 230 is the total number of entries included inthe defect list.

The DL entry #1 240, or DL entry #2 250, is an entry having informationon a defect. Examples of contents included in these DL entries areillustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a detailed structural diagram of data of a DL entry #iillustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the DL entry #i 300 includes state information 310,defective block location information 320, and replacement block locationinformation 330.

The state information 310 is state information on a defect representedby a corresponding DL entry. The defective block location information320 represents location information regarding a defective block recordedon the user area, for example, the sector number of a defective block.The replacement block location information 330 represents locationinformation regarding a replacement block recorded on the SA/DL area,for example, the physical sector number of a replacement block.

The state information 310 includes replacement state information 311,having a length of 1 bit, and consecutive defect information 312, havinga length of 2 bits.

The replacement state information 311 represents whether a defectiveblock, which has occurred in the user area, is replaced or not. That is,the information represents whether a defective block in the user area isreplaced, and a replacement block exists in the SA/DL area, or thedefective block is not replaced, and a replacement block does not existin the SA/DL area.

The consecutive defect information 312 represents whether the DL entryis a consecutive DL entry, which represents consecutive defectiveblocks, and whether the DL entry is the beginning or the end of theconsecutive DL entry if the DL entry is a consecutive DL entry.

The consecutive defective blocks and consecutive defect list entry aredescribed hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to FIG. 7, {circle over (1)} through {circle over (7)} referto units in which a verify-after-write operation is performed. Therecording apparatus records user data up to the section {circle over(1)} and then returns to the first part of the section {circle over (1)}in order to check whether the data is properly recorded or a defect hasoccurred. If a defective part is detected, the part is designated as adefective area. Thus, a defect #1, which is the defective area, isdesignated. The recording apparatus again records the data recorded inthe defect #1 in the SA/DL area. The part in which the data recorded inthe defect #1 is recorded again is called a replacement #1. Then, therecording apparatus records user data up to the section {circle over(2)} and then returns to the first part of the section {circle over (2)}in order to check whether the data is properly recorded or a defect isoccurred. If a defective part is detected, the part is designated as adefect #2. In the same way, a replacement #2 corresponding to the defect#2 is generated. In the section {circle over (2)}, a defect #3 and areplacement #3 are generated. Since a defective part is not detected inthe section {circle over (4)}, a defective area does not exist in thissection.

When termination of a recording operation #0 is predicted afterrecording and verifying up to the section {circle over (4)} (when a userpushes an eject button or recording of user data assigned in therecording operation is completed), the recording apparatus records a DL#1, including information regarding defects #1, #2, and #3 that occurredin the sections {circle over (1)} to {circle over (4)}, in the SA/DLarea.

During the recording operation #1, the recording device records userdata up to the section {circle over (5)} and then returns to the firstpart of the section {circle over (5)} in order to check whether the datais properly recorded or a defect has occurred. If a defective part isdetected, the part is designated as a defect area. In this way, since adefect #4 and a defect #5, which are defect areas, have consecutivelyoccurred, consecutive blocks are designated as defective blocks. Therecording device again records data recorded in the defect #4 and thedefect #5 in the SA/DL area. Then, the recording apparatus records userdata up to the section {circle over (6)}, and then returns to the firstpart of the section {circle over (6)} in order to check whether the datais properly recorded or a defect has occurred. If defect #6 and defect#7, which are defective areas, have consecutively occurred, consecutiveblocks are designated as defective blocks. The recording apparatus againrecords data recorded in the defect #6 and the defect #7 in the SA/DLarea. In the section {circle over (7)}, no defective part is detected ,so a defective area does not exist. When the termination of therecording operation #1 is predicted, the recording apparatus records aDL #2, including information regarding defects #4 through #7, in theSA/DL area.

Defective blocks occurring in consecutive locations of the user area,such as the defects occurring in the recording operation #1, areconsecutive defective blocks. The first defective block of theconsecutive defective blocks is the defect #4, and the last defectiveblock is the defect #7.

Replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defective blocks thatconsecutively occurred in predetermined locations of the user area arerecorded in consecutive locations of the SA/DL area. As shown in theSA/DL area, a replacement block #4, replacing a defect #4 block, isarranged. In the next location, a replacement #5 block, replacing adefect #5 block, is arranged. In the next location, a replacement block#6, replacing a defect #6 block, is arranged. Then, in the nextlocation, a replacement block #7, replacing a defect #7 block, isarranged. The first replacement block among the replacement blocksreplacing consecutive defective blocks is a replacement block #4, andthe last replacement block replacing these consecutive defective blocksis a replacement block #7.

When consecutive defective blocks have occurred in consecutivelocations, once the location of the first block of the consecutivedefective block and the location of the last block are known, thelocations of the rest of the blocks included in the consecutivedefective block can also be known from the locations of the first andthe last blocks, due to the characteristic that defective blocksincluded in a consecutive defective block are located in consecutivelocations. Therefore, a space required to record information regardingdefects can be reduced by including only information on the firstdefective block of a consecutive defective block and the last defectiveblock in information regarding defects. The same is applied to areplacement block replacing a consecutive defective block.

Therefore, a consecutive defect list entry showing information regardinga consecutive defective block may include a start entry and an end entryas shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, the consecutive defect list entry includes a startentry and an end entry. Both the start entry and the end entry have thesame structure as the DL entry shown in FIG. 6. The start entry containsinformation regarding the first defect among consecutive defects and theend entry contains information regarding the last defect.

The start entry includes state information, first defective blocklocation information representing a location of the user area where thefirst defective block among the consecutive defective blocks isrecorded, and first replacement block location information representinga location of the SA/DL area where the first replacement block replacingthe first defective block is recorded. The end entry includes stateinformation, last defective block location information representing alocation of the user area where the last defective block among theconsecutive defective blocks is recorded, and last replacement blocklocation information representing a location of the SA/DL area where thelast replacement block replacing the last defective block is recorded.

FIG. 9 is an example of the replacement state information andconsecutive defect information shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 9, bits representing the replacement state informationare “0” and “1.” If the replacement state information 311 is “1,” adefective block corresponding to the defective block locationinformation 320 is not replaced, and only a defect location is shown. Ifthe replacement state information 311 is “0,” a defective blockcorresponding to the defective block location information 320 isreplaced by a replacement block corresponding to the replacement blocklocation information 330.

Bits representing the consecutive defect information are “00,” “01,” and“10.” If the consecutive defect information 312 is “00,” the DL entryrefers not to a consecutive defect list entry but to a single defectlist entry. In this case, the DL entry may refer to a defective blockwith a replacement or a defective block without a replacement dependingon the value set as the replacement state information. In the case of adefective block with a replacement, the DL entry has defective blocklocation information and replacement block location information. In thecase of a defective block without a replacement, the DL entry only hasdefective block location information.

If the consecutive defect information 312 is “01,” the DL entryrepresents a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 8, the DL entry has first defective block locationinformation regarding consecutive defective blocks, and firstreplacement block location information regarding consecutive replacementblocks.

If the consecutive defect information 312 is “10,” the DL entryrepresents an end entry of a consecutive defect list entry. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 8, the DL entry has last defective block locationinformation regarding consecutive defective blocks, and last replacementblock location information regarding consecutive replacement blocks.

Evaluation of a 3 bit combination of the state information 311, havingthe length of 1 bit, and the consecutive defect information 312, havingthe length of 2 bits, is described hereinafter.

If the 3 bit combination is “000,” the DL entry represents a singledefect list entry about a single defective block, and the state that thesingle defective block has a replacement block. Therefore, the DL entryhas defective block location information and replacement block locationinformation.

If the 3 bit combination is “100,” the DL entry represents a singledefect list entry about a single defective block, and the state that thesingle defective block does not have a replacement block. Therefore, theDL entry has defective block location information, but does not havereplacement block location information.

If the 3 bit combination is “001,” the DL entry represents a start entryof a consecutive defect list entry of consecutive defective blocks, andthat a defective block corresponding to the start entry, which is thefirst defective block among the consecutive defective blocks, has areplacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has location informationregarding the first defective block among the consecutive defectiveblocks, and location information regarding the first replacement blockamong consecutive replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defectiveblocks.

If the 3 bit combination is “010,” the DL entry represents an end entryof a consecutive defect list entry about consecutive defective blocks,and that a defective block corresponding to the end entry, which is thelast defective block from among the consecutive defective blocks, has areplacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has location informationregarding the last defective block among the consecutive defectiveblocks, and location information regarding the last replacement blockamong consecutive replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defectiveblocks.

If the 3 bit combination is “110,” the DL entry represents an end entryof a consecutive defect list entry about consecutive defective blocks,and that a defective block corresponding to the end entry, which is thelast defective block from among the consecutive defective blocks, doesnot have a replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has locationinformation regarding the last defective block from among theconsecutive defective blocks, but does not have location informationregarding the last replacement block from among consecutive replacementblocks replacing the consecutive defective blocks.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams illustrating consecutive defectinformation according an embodiment of to the present invention.

FIG. 10A refers to a user area in which user data is recorded, and FIG.10B refers to an SA/DL area in which replacement blocks and a defectlist are recorded.

Referring to FIG. 10A, a single defective block {circle over (a)}, beingthe first defect, occurred in the user area location “5.” Consecutivedefective blocks {circle over (b)}, {circle over (c)}, {circle over(d)}, and {circle over (e)}, being the second defective block, occurredin the consecutive locations “9” to “12.” Consecutive defective blocks{circle over (f)}, {circle over (g)}, {circle over (h)}, and {circleover (i)}, being the third defective block, occurred in the consecutivelocations “17” to “20.”

Referring to FIG. 10B, replacement blocks, which replace defect blocksoccurring in the user area, and a defect list are shown in the SA/DLarea.

A single replacement block {circle over (a)}′, replacing the singledefective block {circle over (a)}, is arranged in the location “55” ofthe SA/DL area. Consecutive replacement blocks {circle over (b)}′,{circle over (c)}′, {circle over (d)}′, and {circle over (e)}′,consecutively replacing the consecutive defective blocks {circle over(b)}, {circle over (c)}, {circle over (d)},and {circle over (e)}, arearranged in the locations of the SA/DL area from “56” to “59.” A defectlist DL #k, which is updated after the fourth consecutive defect, isrecorded at the location “60.” The consecutive defective blocks {circleover (f)}, {circle over (g)}, {circle over (h)}, and {circle over (i)}do not have replacement blocks. Information that is included in thedefect list DL #k is shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11A is a structural diagram of data of the DL#k illustrated in FIG.10B.

Referring to FIG. 11A, the DL #K 400 includes a DL identifier 410, a DLupdate counter 420, the number of DL entries 430, and 5 DL entries, thatis a DL entry #1 440, DL entry #2 450, DL entry #3 460, DL entry #4 470,and DL entry #5 480.

The DL identifier 410 is an identifier indicating a DL. In the DL updatecounter 420, “K” is recorded as the number of DL updates. In the numberof DL entries 430, “5 ” is recorded as the total number of entriesincluded in the DL #K.

The DL entry #1 440 is an entry regarding the single defective block{circle over (a)} shown in FIG. 10A. In the DL entry #1 440, “0” isrecorded as replacement state information, “00” as consecutive defectinformation, “5” as defective block location information, and “55” asreplacement block location information.

The DL entry #2 450 and the DL entry #3 460 comprise consecutive defectlist entries.

The DL entry #2 450 is the start entry of the consecutive defect listentries, and the DL entry #3 460 is the end entry of the consecutivedefect list entries. That is, the DL entry #2 450 is an entry regardingthe first defective block {circle over (b)} from among the consecutivedefective blocks shown in FIG. 10A. In the DL entry #2 450, “0” isrecorded as replacement state information because the defective block{circle over (b)} is replaced. “01” is recorded as consecutive defectinformation because the DL entry #2 450 is the start entry of theconsecutive defect list entries. “9” is recorded as location informationof the defective block {circle over (b)}, and “56” as locationinformation of the replacement block {circle over (b)}′.

The DL entry #3 460 is an entry regarding the last defective block{circle over (e)} from among the consecutive defective blocks shown inFIG. 8. In the DL entry #3 460, “0” is recorded as replacement stateinformation, because the defective block {circle over (e)} is replaced.“10” is recorded as consecutive defect information because the DL entry#3 460 is the end entry of the consecutive defect list entries. “12” isrecorded as location information of the defective block {circle over(e)}, and “59” as location information of the replacement block {circleover (e)}′.

The DL entry #4 470 and the DL entry #5 480 comprise consecutive defectlist entries.

The DL entry #4 470 is the start entry of the consecutive defect listentries, and the DL entry #5 480 is the end entry of the consecutivedefect list entries. That is, the DL entry #4 470 is an entry regardingthe first defective block {circle over (f)} from among the consecutivedefective blocks shown in FIG. 10A. In the DL entry #4 470, “1” isrecorded as replacement state information, because the defective block{circle over (f)} is not replaced. “01,” is recorded as consecutivedefect information, because the DL entry #4 470 is the start entry ofthe consecutive defect list entries. “17” is recorded as locationinformation of the defective block {circle over (f)}. “00” is recordedas replacement location information, because a replacement blockreplacing the defective block {circle over (f)} does not exist.

The DL entry #5 480 is an entry regarding the last defective block{circle over (i)} from among the consecutive defective blocks shown inFIG. 10A. In the DL entry #5 480, “1” is recorded as replacement stateinformation, because the defective block {circle over (i)} is notreplaced. “10” is recorded as consecutive defect information, becausethe DL entry #5 480 is the end entry of the consecutive defect listentries. “20” is recorded as location information of the defective block{circle over (i)}. “00” is recorded as replacement location information,because a replacement block replacing the defective block {circle over(i)} does not exist.

FIG. 11B is a structural diagram of a DL #k illustrated in FIG. 10B,further including information regarding the number of consecutive defectlist entries.

The DL #k shown in FIG. 11B is similar to the DL #k shown in FIG. 11A,except that the number of consecutive defect list entries 490 is furtherincluded. Referring to FIG. 10, “2” is recorded as the number ofconsecutive defect list entries 490 because there are two consecutivedefect list entries.

By including a field for the number of consecutive defect list entries,it is possible to know the number of consecutive defect list entries andthe number of single defect list entries in a defect list withoutsearching all the DL entries. The number of single defect list entriesmay be calculated as shown below from the number of DL entries and thenumber of consecutive defect list entries.

The number of single defect list entries=the number of DL entries−2×thenumber of consecutive defect list entries.

Because the consecutive defect list entries are comprised of a pair of astart entry and an end entry, the above expression can be formed.

For example, in the DL #K shown in FIG. 11B, the number of single defectlist entries can be calculated as “the number of single defect listentries=5−2×2=1.”

FIG. 11C is a structural diagram of data of a DL #k illustrated in FIG.11B, further including information regarding the number of consecutivedefect list entries having replacement state information “0”, andinformation regarding the number of consecutive defect list entrieshaving replacement state information “1”.

The DL #k shown in FIG. 11C is similar to the DL #k shown in FIG. 11B,except that information regarding the number of consecutive defect listentries having replacement state information “0” 500, and information onthe number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement stateinformation “1” 510, are further included. Referring to FIG. 11A, theconsecutive defect list entry having replacement state information “0”is a consecutive defect list entry comprised of DL entry #2 450 and DLentry #3 460. Because the number of the consecutive defect list entrieshaving replacement state information “0” is one, “1” is recorded as thenumber of consecutive defect list entries having replacement stateinformation “0” 500. The consecutive defect list entry havingreplacement state information “1” is a consecutive defect list entrycomprised of DL entry #4 470 and DL entry #5 480. Because the number ofthe consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information“1” is one, “1” is recorded as the number of consecutive defect listentries having replacement state information “1” 510.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a defect management method of adisc according to and embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the recording apparatus records user data in adata area by a unit in which a verify-after-write operation is performed1201. Next, data recorded in operation 1201 is verified to find a partin which a defect has occurred 1202. A controlling unit 1 designates thepart in which a defect occurred as a defective area, records again thedata recorded in the defective area in the SA/DL area in order togenerate a replacement area, generates information regarding thedefective block and the replacement block, and records the informationin a memory 1203. The operations 1201 through 1203 are repeated untilthe termination of the recording operation is predicted.

When recording user data according to a user input, or the recordingoperation is completed and the termination of the recording operation ispredicted in operation 1204, the controlling unit 1 of the recordingdevice reads information regarding defects stored in the memory inoperation 1205.

If information regarding consecutive defects exists among theinformation on the read defects, a consecutive defect list entrycomprising a start entry corresponding to information regarding thefirst defect of the consecutive defects, and an end entry correspondingto information regarding the last defect, is generated, and a DL is alsogenerated by including consecutive defect information showing whether adefect is a consecutive defect or a single defect, and replacement stateinformation showing whether a replacement block exists in each DL entryin operation 1206.

The generated DL is recorded in the SA/DL area in operation 1207.

The disc defect management method described above may also be realizedas a computer readable code stored on a computer-readable recordingmedium. The computer readable recording medium includes all kinds ofrecording media on which computer readable data are stored. Examples ofthe computer readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, astereo tape, a floppy disc, and an optical date recording device. Thecomputer readable recording medium may also be a carrier wave (forexample, transmission over the Internet). In the computer readablerecording media, which are distributed to computer systems connected bynetwork, code that a computer can read by a distribution method can bestored and executed. A function program, code, and code segments forrealizing the disc defect management method can be easily inferred byprogrammers of the technological field to which the present inventionbelongs.

According to the present invention described above, on an optical discon which defect management is performed, a space for recording defectlists for defect management can be effectively managed and thus, theentire disc space can be effectively managed.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. An optical recording medium comprising: a user data area; and anSA/DL area in which a replacement block to replace a defective blocklocated in the user data area, and information regarding a defectcorresponding to the defective block, is recorded; wherein theinformation regarding the defect comprises a consecutive defect listentry including information regarding defects located in consecutivelocations of the user data area.
 2. The medium of claim 1, wherein theconsecutive defect list entry comprises: a start entry corresponding toinformation regarding a first defective block; and an end entrycorresponding to information regarding a last defective block; whereinthe first and last defective blocks are among defective blocks in theconsecutive locations of the user data area.
 3. The medium of claim 2,wherein the start entry includes location information regarding thefirst defective block, and location information regarding a replacementblock replacing the first defective block.
 4. The medium of claim 2,wherein the end entry includes location information regarding the lastdefective block, and location information regarding a replacement blockreplacing the last defective block.
 5. The medium of claim 1, whereinthe information regarding the defect further comprises informationregarding a number of the consecutive defect list entries.
 6. The mediumof claim 5, wherein the information regarding the defect furthercomprises information regarding a number of defect list entries.
 7. Themedium of claim 6, wherein a number of single defect list entries iscalculated by multiplying the number of consecutive defect list entriesby a factor of two, and subtracting a resulting product from the numberof defect list entries.
 8. The medium of claim 1, wherein theinformation regarding the defect further comprises: a defect list entrycomprising: location information regarding the defective block, locationinformation regarding the replacement block, and state informationregarding the defect.
 9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the stateinformation comprises replacement state information representing whetherthe defective block is replaced, and consecutive defect informationrepresenting whether the defective block is a consecutive defectiveblock.
 10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the information regarding thedefect further comprises information regarding a number of consecutivedefect list entries having replacement state information representingthat the defective block is replaced.
 11. The medium of claim 10,wherein the information regarding the defect further comprisesinformation regarding a number of consecutive defect list entries havingreplacement state information representing that the defective block isnot replaced.
 12. An apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/froman optical recording medium, the apparatus comprising: a writing/readingunit to write the data on the medium and/or read the data from themedium; and a controlling unit; wherein the controlling unit assigns tothe medium an SA/DL area, in which a replacement block, which replaces adefective block having a defect in a user data area, and informationregarding the defect is recorded; and controls the writing/reading unitto record the information regarding the defect, which comprisesconsecutive defect list entries corresponding to information regardingdefects located in consecutive locations of the user data area, in theSA/DL area.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the consecutivedefect list entries comprise a start entry corresponding to informationregarding a first defective block among defective blocks in theconsecutive locations, and an end entry corresponding to informationregarding a last defective block among the defective blocks in theconsecutive locations.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein thecontrolling unit generates the start entry including locationinformation regarding the first defective block and location informationregarding a replacement block replacing the first defective block. 15.The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controlling unit generates theend entry including location information regarding the last defectiveblock and location information regarding a replacement block replacingthe last defective block.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thecontrolling unit generates information regarding a number of theconsecutive defect list entries and information regarding a number ofdefect list entries into information on the defect; and the number ofsingle defect list entries is calculated by multiplying the number ofconsecutive defect list entries by a factor of two, and subtracting aresulting product from the number of defect list entries.
 17. A methodof recording/reproducing data on an optical recording medium, the methodcomprising: assigning to the medium an SA/DL area, in which areplacement block to replace a defective block in a user data area, andinformation regarding a defect corresponding to the defective block, isrecorded; and recording information regarding the defect, whichcomprises consecutive defect list entries corresponding to informationregarding defects located in consecutive locations of the user dataarea, in the SA/DL area.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisingmaking the consecutive defect list entries comprise a start entrycorresponding to a first defective block among defective blocks in theconsecutive locations, and an end entry corresponding to a lastdefective block among the defective blocks in the consecutive locations.19. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating the startentry including location information regarding the first defective blockand location information regarding a replacement block replacing thefirst defective block.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprisinggenerating the end entry including location information regarding thelast defective block and location information regarding a replacementblock replacing the last defective block.
 21. The method of claim 17,further comprising: including information regarding a number of theconsecutive defect list entries and information regarding a number ofdefect list entries in the information regarding the defect; andcalculating a number of single defect list entries by multiplying thenumber of consecutive defect list entries by a factor of two, andsubtracting a resulting product from the number of defect list entries.22. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program to control anapparatus to perform a defect management method of recording/reproducingdata on an optical disc on which defects are managed, the defectmanagement method including: assigning to the medium an SA/DL area, inwhich a replacement block to replace a defective block having a defectin a user data area, and information regarding the defect correspondingto the defective block is recorded; and recording information regardingthe defect, which comprises consecutive defect list entriescorresponding to information regarding defects located in consecutivelocations of the user data area, in the SA/DL area.
 23. An opticalrecording medium comprising: a plurality of replacement blocksrespectively replacing corresponding defective blocks in the opticalrecording medium; and a consecutive defect list entry comprisinginformation regarding the defective blocks located in consecutivelocations of the medium.
 24. The optical recording medium of claim 23,further comprising information regarding start and end entriesrespectively corresponding to first and last defective blocks among thedefective blocks in the consecutive locations of the medium.
 25. Theoptical recording medium of claim 24, wherein the start entry comprisesinformation regarding the first defective block, and locationinformation regarding a replacement block replacing the first defectiveblock.
 26. The optical recording medium of claim 24, wherein the endentry comprises information regarding the last defective block, andlocation information regarding a replacement block replacing the lastdefective block.
 27. The optical recording medium of claim 23, furthercomprising information regarding a number of the defective blocks in theconsecutive locations of the medium.
 28. The optical recording medium ofclaim 23, wherein the consecutive defect list entry comprises locationinformation of only first and last defective blocks among the defectiveblocks in the consecutive locations of the medium.
 29. A method ofrecording/reproducing data on an optical recording medium, the methodcomprising: recording replacement blocks corresponding to defectiveblocks in the medium; and recording a defective list entry comprisinginformation regarding the defective blocks located in consecutivelocations of the medium.
 30. A method of recording/reproducing data onan optical recording medium, the method comprising: detectingconsecutive defective blocks on the medium; and generating a consecutivedefect list entry comprising start and end entries respectivelycorresponding to first and last defective blocks among consecutivedefective blocks.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the consecutivedefect list entry comprises location information only for the start andend entries of the respective first and last defective blocks among theconsecutive defective blocks.
 32. A method of recording/reproducing dataon an optical recording medium, the method comprising: generating adefect list entry comprising information regarding a defect in a one ormore defective blocks, whether the defective blocks are located inconsecutive locations of the medium, and whether the defective blockshave been replaced by replacement blocks.
 33. The method of claim 32,wherein the defect list entry comprises a 3-bit binary number.
 34. Themethod of claim 33, wherein the 3-bit binary number indicates whetherone of the one or more defective blocks has been replaced, whether theone of the one or more defective blocks is among consecutive defectiveblocks, and whether the one of the one or more defective blocks is afirst or last defective block among consecutive defective blocks.